From Queen to King
Farewell to The Queen and Long Live the King it is now for the British Commonwealth. I have watched the events surrounding the Queen’s death and burial over the past two weeks in fascination.
It was two days before Queen Elizabeth’s death that I saw the photo of her greeting the new Bristish Prime Minister Liz Truss with an apparent bruise on her hand. I thought to myself “what’s going on with the Queen?” But then I reminded myself that she was 96 and that the loss of her husband, Prince Phillip, last year appeared to be very hard on her emotionally. Then a few days later, the news came.
As a kid, I was never quite sure why Americans were so intrigued by the Queen, or the U.K. rather, since the U.S. Founding Fathers did break away from Britain, right? Anyway, you get older you get wiser. I found Queen Elizabeth quite interesting—her story and her persona.
To begin she was the monarch that wasn’t “supposed to be” after her uncle abdicated the throne passing it on to her father King George. Then, she took the throne at the ripe age of 26 after her father died. While she had formal training on how to rule as a monarch, I am sure it was very different in a political era that was very much dominated by male heads of state.
Fast forward seven decades, she became the longest ruling monarch and in significant fashion. For one, those now living won’t see another Queen on the throne in their lifetime (according to lineage rules) unless some truly tragic events happen, which I pray they do not. Princess Charlotte is the next possible Queen in line after her grandfather Charles, father William, and brother George.
I love that the Queen was a mother four times over during her rule. Granted Charles and Anne were born before her coronation but being a working monarch she went on to have two more children.
I am sure Charles’ rule will look a little different than his “mums” as times are changing but he has the benefit of five decades of being groomed for the monarch, much more than the Queen. The King has had a rough few weeks, you could see it on his face—the pressure of assuming the throne, preparing to lay “the Queen” to rest over 11 days all while just grieving his mother. That’s a lot!
I awakened Monday to the Queen’s final services and not my usual local weather and crime reports. I watched a bit of it as I did my usual tasks of making lunch, sorting clothes, etc. It was a different type of Royal Family pomp and circumstance than the world has ever seen. I loved that she had one final stroll around the countries she presided over, around the city where she ruled from, and the landmarks she loved, in a car she designed just for that purpose.
The Queen was really a bit of a pop culture icon too. She had fashion, she had humor, and she had wit. I will miss her bright color outfits with matching hats and purse on hand.
Long-Lived The Queen!